'RAISING KIDS’

An original short length screenplay.

Written by: Simon Parker.

Copyright © 2011 simonkyleparker@hotmail.co.uk

FADE IN. INT. KENNY'S HOUSE - DAY KENNY, 26, stands with SARAH, 30, just outside their bathroom. They then come together, hold hands and hug. They both smile, excited. KENNY So, what is it. Can you say? SARAH Yes. He pulls back away from her, stares into her eyes. They both still smile. KENNY Yes what? SARAH Yes, I’m pregnant. Kenny lets out a loud cheer. KENNY Yes, fucking hell, that's great. SARAH So, is that great news then? He nods. KENNY Too fucking right, it's great news. She laughs.

They come back together, hug and kiss. INT. JAMIE'S CAR - DAY JAMIE, 37, drives. Kenny sits next to him on the front passenger seat. He looks over at him. KENNY Sarah’s pregnant, found out today. Jamie smiles. JAMIE Good. Kenny laughs. KENNY You don’t sound very happy for me, I thought this would be big news. Jamie laughs. JAMIE It is. KENNY So where's the excitement? JAMIE Well I know you've both been trying for a while now, I've been excepting this. Kenny shakes his head. KENNY I can’t believe I’m going to be a father. JAMIE Surreal?

KENNY It's more intense than anything else. JAMIE I’m happy for you. KENNY Too fucking right, and as you should be. Jamie smiles. JAMIE She's going to get fat now though. KENNY Her boobs are going to get big too. Jamie laughs. INT. BABY CLOHTES SHOP - DAY Sarah looks through a bunch of different brightly coloured baby clothes with some of her all female FRIENDS. As they pick through different cute outfits they’re all getting gradually more and more excited. INT. PUB - DAY Jamie and Kenny sit at a small table with BEN, 28, off away in a quiet corner of the pub. Each of them has a pint of beer out in front of them. BEN It's great news man, I’m happy for you. KENNY There's a bunch of fears now though. Ben smiles.

BEN There's no fears yet, there's a while yet before it even comes out. Kenny laughs. KENNY Do you mind not talking about my child like that. BEN Sorry, but my point remains, there's nothing to worry about. JAMIE I can understand why you might be nervous though, it's all so new. BEN I’m not worried or scared by the fact it's new, I’m scared about lots of other things. JAMIE Our parents had both of us while they were both still younger than you are now. If a couple of morons like them can do it I’m sure you can pull it off. KENNY I’m not worried by my age. I've worked at that dole office now for seven years and I’ve seen all kinds of kids walking in. So what worries me, even at this stage is how I’m going to raise my kid up to be nothing like those fucking scum kids that I see day in day out. BEN That's a bit harsh. KENNY Don’t get me wrong, some of the people who come in are genuinely looking for something, but it’s the people in

their early to late twenties that piss me off. And I don’t even know why I’m calling them kids because they're not. They come in because they just don’t want to work. They're angry at everything, they turn up with this fucking insane attitude and they're always looking for a fight at a drop of a hat. So why are they like that. Were they born scum. We're they knocked about too much by their parents. Do they feel unloved. What is it. How did they turn out like that? BEN Fuck knows, but that's a pretty big question to be asking. JAMIE Some of them are born that way. Some of them get raised that way. KENNY So that's what I want to try and figure out, and that's what I’m scared of, how do I raise my kid? BEN Spare the rod spoil the child. It's not the right thing to say in this day and age, but I believe it‘s true. Jamie smiles. JAMIE You really do? Ben nods. BEN I do. If you spoil the kid they'll turn out shitty. Kids need boundaries and harsh discipline. To the point where they maybe even need to be a

little bit scared of you. KENNY No, that's pretty fucked up. BEN No it's not. I think I’m right. I know hitting kids is out as an idea these days, unpopular, but it's true. KENNY What the fuck are you talking about, were you born in the fifties or something. Ben smiles. BEN I got hit as a kid, and I bet you two did as well. KENNY Yeah, and? BEN I turned out ok. KENNY No, you turned out to be an arsehole just like everyone else. BEN Hitting kids works. They get the message. KENNY I’m not going to spank my kid, that idea is out straight away. And yeah I got spanked as a kid, and I know what it did to me, so I’m not going to do it to someone else. The idea that you've got to hit to be respected is just insane to me. And if you thought about it for longer than five minutes you’d agree with me.

JAMIE It horrified me. Our dad would use his belt and anything else he could get his hands on. BEN But like I’ve already said, you both turned out ok. Kenny shakes his head. KENNY No, I don’t even speak to my parents. And I hate to think that my child who still isn’t even born yet could grow up to feel the same way about me as I feel about my own dad. Ben smiles. BEN And how do you feel about him? KENNY Nothing, I don’t feel anything for that man. Jamie turns away from him, unable to look at him. INT. JAMIE'S CAR - DAY Jamie drives. Kenny sits next to him. Jamie quickly glances across at him. JAMIE Did you mean what you said in there? KENNY What part. Which bit of what I said do you mean. I said a lot.

JAMIE Don’t you talk to mum or dad anymore? KENNY Yeah, not really. Only when you're with me. I don’t visit them on my own. I don’t think I can anymore. Jamie’s shocked to hear this. JAMIE Why? KENNY It's linked to what I was saying in there. Dad used to beat the shit out of us. And it's something that's very clearly scarred into my memory. JAMIE Yeah I know, but you've still got to have something to do with him. Kenny shakes his head, dismisses it. KENNY When I was a kid I remember thinking as soon as I get older enough to do it, I’m getting the fuck away from that fucking psychopath. JAMIE Fucking hell Kenny. KENNY What Jamie, I don’t have to love them, and I don’t have to have anything to do with them if I don’t want to, and I don’t. JAMIE But you have to love them, these are the only parents you're ever going to have.

KENNY And they raised me to feel like this. You reap what you sow. JAMIE But are you really this traumatised from your childhood? KENNY No, it's not that I was traumatized by this. Whenever I got hit I was just waiting for it to be finished. I always felt bad watching them do it, almost embarrassed for them. They both did it. And it trained and taught me to fucking hate them. Jamie shakes his head, annoyed. JAMIE I don’t know bro, I just feel like you really shouldn’t be saying this. INT. KENNY'S HOUSE - FRONT ROOM - NIGHT Kenny lies out across the sofa with Sarah, she's on the outside of him, her back pressed against his chest. He wraps an arm around her and hugs her as they both stare out towards the television. INT. SARAH'S CAR - DAY Sarah drives. Kenny sits next to her on the front passenger seat. He looks over and stares at her. KENNY Don’t be mad with me ok? She quickly glances across at him, slightly annoyed.

SARAH I don’t know why you're been like this. KENNY We'll tell your parents first together, but I’ll tell mine on my own. SARAH Why? KENNY I know they'll have something to bitch about. SARAH But I don’t think they will. KENNY That's because you're sweet and try to see the best in everyone. We will tell them together, I just need to tell them first on my own. EXT. SARAH'S PARENTS HOUSE - GARDEN - DAY Kenny and Sarah stand with their arms wrapped around each other in front her PARENTS, they’re both in their late 50's. Sarah’s dad hands them both a glass of champagne each. Both her parents then smile excited. KENNY Thank you. SARAH'S DAD Congregations to the both of you. SARAH'S MUM Yes, congregations, this is wonderful news. SARAH'S DAD To the happy couple and soon to be

new parents. Her parents lift up their champagne glasses. Kenny and Sarah both laugh. Everyone's smiles, they then toast and drink. INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - DAY Kenny sits behind his small cluttered desk inside his small cultured office, large filing cabinets are in every corner. A MAN, 22, sits slumped in a chair in front of him on the other side of his desk. KENNY What have you applied for since the last time I spoke to you? The man shrugs, doesn’t care and needs to show it to Kenny. MAN A few different things I guess. KENNY Like what? MAN Just the things you told me to apply for. KENNY And has anyone called you back from the positions you've applied for? MAN No. An awkward pause. KENNY And how does that make you feel? He shrugs again.

MAN I don’t care, fuck them, I’m not bother about other people anyway. INT. KENNY'S WORK - BREAK ROOM - DAY Kenny stands up at the counter and slowly makes himself a cup of coffee. INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - DAY Kenny’s back behind his desk, he looks out at another MAN, 32, he sits in that chair in front of him. MAN TWO Is this going to take long? KENNY No. It's not. MAN TWO I’ve got a doctors appointment today, so I can’t stay long. KENNY This isn’t going to take long, we go through this every two weeks, I just need to check what jobs you've been applying for. You've been coming to see me for the passed four years, you know the drill by now. The man smiles. MAN TWO I can’t stay long, the doctor said he needs to see me. He said it was really important. KENNY Are you even telling me the truth right now? The man laughs.

MAN TWO Don’t call me a fucking lair mate. I’ll walk if you disrespect me again like that. Don’t dare call me a fucking lair. KENNY What's your doctor name then? MAN TWO Mate, don’t try and pull this bullshit with me. I’m not bothered. I’ll fucking do one, I don’t fucking care about been here at all. INT. KENNY'S WORK - ROOM - DAY Kenny stands up by a large printer and waits for a large amount of paper to finish coming out. INT. KENNY'S OFFICE - DAY Kenny sits back behind his desk and looks across at a WOMAN, 25, who sits in that chair in front of him. KENNY So you want to take your son out of school? She nods. WOMAN He's getting bullied, and I' not going to stand for it. KENNY And what's your plan? WOMAN I’m going to home school him, I know it'll be a full time job but I’m willing to do it. KENNY And what do you think qualifies you

for this? WOMAN Well I don’t know much about maths or nothing, but I love my son and I’m going to school him at home. INT. JAMIE'S CAR - DAY Jamie drives. Kenny sits next to him, still dressed in his work clothes. Kenny looks across at Jamie, smiles. KENNY Thanks for coming with me. JAMIE That's alright, I wasn’t doing anything else. KENNY But still, I want to say thanks, I didn’t want to do this on my own, I haven’t spoke to them in around six months, so something is going to kick off. JAMIE But you really should take Sarah to see them to break this kind of news to them. KENNY No, I don’t want her to be here for this. JAMIE Why not? KENNY I don’t want her to ever have to be in the same room as them. She's already met them once and that was enough.

JAMIE That's pretty messed up Kenny. INT. KENNY'S PARENTS HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY Kenny and Jamie sit at the table with their PARENTS, both 50. KENNY So, that's the news, that's why I wanted to meet up with you today. His mum smiles. His dad has no real change in his stony expression. KENNY'S MUM Oh that's wonderful news, but where is she today? KENNY She's with her sister. KENNY'S MUM Oh that's a shame, but this is still great news, I’m so happy for you both. His mum looks across at her husband for a response. KENNY'S DAD Well this is certainly big news. KENNY'S MUM Well I can’t wait, both of you were so cute when you were babies. Jamie smiles. JAMIE Thanks mum, but I’m still pretty cute now. KENNY'S MUM And I hope the baby will take after

you Kenny, I don’t know what Sarah was like when she was little, but you were both so well behaved, a couple of lovely little boys. KENNY'S DAD That's down to how they were raised. So you've got a hard job to raise this child in the same way. But I’m sure you can manage that. Kenny shakes his head, laughs. KENNY I’m not raising my child your way. So you can forget about that right now. JAMIE Kenny, don’t. KENNY'S DAD What's that supposed to mean? KENNY Remember how you used to hang your belt off the door handle of mine and Jamie’s room when we were little. As we went to bed you would always do that as some kind of fucked up warning for us not to talk to each other at night. KENNY'S MUM Kenny! JAMIE Kenny please, not now. KENNY'S DAD Don’t ever talk to me like that. It was all about discipline, making sure you acted right, I had a job as your father to make sure you turned out right.

KENNY’S MUM Please can we not argue for god’s shake. We did this the last time we were together. KENNY’S DAD Kenny you need to stop brining the passed up, it’s not how you remember it. KENNY When you beat the shit out of us it was because you and mum hated each other, so you took it out on us because you didn’t know how to end it with each other and you still don’t. KENNY'S DAD Watch your fucking mouth boy. KENNY'S MUM Me and your father never hated each other. Kenny turns his attention onto her. KENNY You've got nothing in common with this man. And you were just as bad, you'd smack us across the face too. And you would always turn your fucking rings around on your fingers just before you did it. His mum drops her head down, upset. Kenny comes back to his dad. KENNY'S DAD What the fuck has gotten into you? KENNY I’m not going to pretend like I love either one of you anymore, that's what happened.

His mum starts to cry. JAMIE Fucking hell Kenny, just shut the hell up. KENNY No Jamie, I need to say this. I’m not ignoring this anymore. Jamie stands up out of his chair, moves over to his mum and puts an arm around her. KENNY'S DAD Say it then. Get it off your chest. But understand that yes I was hard on you, the both of you. But it's what you both needed. So stop acting like a victim. KENNY Hitting kids to teach them about discipline and how to act is wrong and doesn’t even work. KENNY'S DAD It was how I was raised. KENNY Yeah, and look at how fucked up you turned out. KENNY'S DAD And who the hell do you think you are. And when this bastard child is born let’s see how you handle it. You soft fuck. You think you're going to be some cool parent who's going to listen and always be calm with his child. Bullshit. You'll do what I did to you, and what my father did to me. KENNY Using a belt on us, just because we mouthed off. Using your fucking belt on us. Giving us a level of pain

before we could deal with it. KENNY'S DAD You'll raise that child of yours right, or I’ll do it for you. You’ll come running to me for help so you best shut your mouth right now. KENNY No, from this day on you're going to stay the fuck away from me and the fuck away from my family. KENNY'S DAD Get out of my fucking house. Kenny stands up, looks over at Jamie. KENNY Jamie, come with me. JAMIE No Kenny, not like this. KENNY Jamie, come with me, fuck them off. You know I’m right about everything I’ve just said. JAMIE Yeah, I know you're right, but I’m staying. KENNY Fine, find me when you're ready. Kenny then turns around and exits. INT. KENNY'S HOUSE - FRONT ROOM - NIGHT Kenny sits on the sofa with Sarah. They both look out towards the television in front of them. Kenny reaches over to her and wraps an arm around the back of her.

She smiles, leans over and rests her head down against his chest. With his other hand Kenny reaches over and rests it gently down onto her stomach. FADE TO BLACK THE END